Perth, 7 March 2026 – Although Vietnam Women’s National Team suffered a 0–1 defeat to Chinese Taipei, a result that introduces several unpredictable scenarios, it could still place them in a potentially more favorable path in the race for a spot at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The decisive moment came when Matsunaga Saki’s shot struck the crossbar and bounced back into play. Su Yu Hsuan reacted quickest, calmly heading the rebound into the empty net. Around her, Vietnam’s players stood frozen, seemingly stunned by the situation. Only center-back Le Thi Diem My made a late attempt to chase the ball, trying to salvage hope.
Vietnam conceded a deserved goal as their defensive structure was disrupted. The players struggled to keep up with the pace of their opponents and appeared mentally shaken after the breakthrough. It was a rare sight for a team long known for resilience, discipline, and fighting spirit to be outplayed tactically, physically, and psychologically in a single moment.
Throughout the match, Vietnam showed few of the trademark qualities that typically define their style. There were limited displays of relentless pressing, explosive runs, or the collective encouragement that often fuels their determination.
Physical fitness also appeared to be a significant issue. The problem had already surfaced in the narrow 2–1 win over India in the opening match played at night. It became even more evident when Vietnam faced Chinese Taipei in the intense afternoon heat in Australia. Coach Mai Duc Chung admitted that the players were not at their best physically after a training period that lacked competitive matches following the Lunar New Year break.
Under the scorching conditions, television cameras repeatedly captured the Vietnamese players looking visibly exhausted. Chinese Taipei also paid a physical price, as both Su Yu Hsuan and Chang Chi Lan suffered injuries during the demanding encounter.
Vietnam only showed signs of improvement in the latter stages of the second half when Mai Duc Chung introduced younger players such as Tran Thi Hai Linh, Nguyen Thi Truc Huong, and Ngoc Minh Chuyen. These substitutes created the team’s most promising opportunities, with Hai Linh and Minh Chuyen narrowly missing the target, while Truc Huong failed to connect properly with a close-range header.
Just before the final whistle, Ngoc Minh Chuyen went down inside the penalty area, but VAR determined that no foul had occurred. Despite their late push, Vietnam could not find an equalizer, while Chinese Taipei defended resolutely to protect their lead.
Ironically, the defeat might not entirely derail Vietnam’s World Cup ambitions. Four years ago, Vietnam secured their historic first World Cup qualification with a dramatic 2–1 victory over Chinese Taipei during the pandemic-affected tournament. This time, finishing third in Group C could potentially place Vietnam on a more manageable knockout path.
Pre-match analysis suggested that finishing second in the group would likely pit Vietnam against the Group B winners in the quarterfinals and later force them into a difficult play-off route against top Asian powers such as Australia, South Korea, China, or North Korea. By contrast, finishing third could lead to a quarterfinal meeting with the Group A winners and potentially a more balanced play-off matchup against teams such as the Philippines, Iran, Uzbekistan, or Bangladesh.
Ideally, a draw against Chinese Taipei would have been the most favorable scenario. However, the 0–1 loss has made the situation in Group C far more complicated, leaving Vietnam’s World Cup qualification hopes dependent on several variables.
Speaking after the match, coach Mai Duc Chung admitted the situation remains uncertain. “At the moment it is very difficult to calculate our chances precisely because there are still many unknown factors. We will take it one match at a time. As I said from the beginning, we cannot rely on outside factors — we must focus on our own efforts.”
According to the tournament schedule, Group C will conclude last. Vietnam will face Japan at 4:00 PM on March 10, at the same time that Chinese Taipei play India.
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